a distinguished sports management academic, international project leader, and Olympic volunteerism expert with 14+ years of experience spanning higher education, mega-sport events, and European sports policy. Based in London, she currently serves as Principal Lecturer (Research & Knowledge Exchange) at the University of Sunderland in London (2022–present), leading postgraduate research and a team of 4 programme managers, while also acting as Associate Lecturer in Sport Event Management at Birkbeck University of London.
A PhD holder in Sport Policy (Loughborough University) with a MA in Olympic Studies (Distinction) and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), Dr. Koutrou’s expertise centers on sport volunteering legacy, sustainable sport events, and international sports partnerships. She has led high-impact projects, including an International Olympic Committee (IOC)-funded study on Athens 2004’s volunteer legacy and the Erasmus+-funded PlayGreen project (ENGSO, 2019–present), which builds European networks for green sports. Her track record includes designing innovative modules (e.g., “Managing Sport Events for Sustainable Development”) and supervising 200+ volunteers during London 2012.
A decorated professional, she was a Torchbearer for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay (Greek Leg), a scholar of the Onassis Foundation and Hellenic State Scholarships Foundation, and Secretary of the British Disabled Fencing Association. With 15+ refereed publications, keynote speaking engagements across 10+ countries, and grant leadership totaling £50k+, Dr. Koutrou bridges academic research, industry practice, and policy to advance sustainable, inclusive sport globally.